Full Circle News
investing...informing...inspiring
March 2023
Message from LeadershipWhat's Your Four-Leaf Clover?March hints at the beginning of spring and entices us to look in new directions. Are we searching for our own personal four-leaf clover? Feel free to ‛wear the green’ but don ’t forget what is going on in AAWGT this month. Our March 15 program (see below) will open your eyes to a new way of looking a things and dealing with stress. The Grants Committee is focused on the 54 applications we have received from a wide range of exciting nonprofits. Other committees are also very busy and could really use your help! So please take a look and volunteer for what strikes your interest here.Sincerely, Susan Cook, President Grantee Spotlight: Marshall Hope
Providing Emergency Food, Supplies and Compassionate Support in Times of Crisis ‟Because you provided us with diapers, we could pay our rent this month,” shared Maria from Guatemala. When the founders of Marshall Hope joined to offset expenses for an Hispanic family that tragically lost their father to Covid in 2020, they didn’t foresee that they would establish a lifeline for many underserved Hispanic families in our community. Today, Marshall Hope provides emergency, food, baby supplies, clothing and compassionate support to these families in crisis. As an all-volunteer organization, Marshall Hope depends upon donations and grants to further the mission of ‟spreading hope in the Annapolis community by providing essential resources and services to vulnerable and underserved families.” A generous grant from AAWGT in 2022 helped the West Annapolis Pantry maintain its role as a reliable source of emergency supplies, now serving over 500 families per month. Read more/lessThanks to dedicated volunteers, Marshall Hope hosts two drive-through pantries per month in West Annapolis. Families are greeted by a bilingual speaker and asked about family size, zip code and baby needs. As the line progresses, each car is given toiletries based on donations received, along with a pre-sorted bag of counted diapers. Cars are then directed to one of three stations where the same assortment of food is placed in each car including rice, beans, fresh vegetables, proteins, dairy, and other staples. If a family needs baby equipment or clothes, they then proceed to the baby area to receive what is available. The process can normally take two hours. In the past months several moms and their kids have gotten out of their cars and joined the volunteers to help dispense items and keep those waiting in line company. While providing a new mother with diapers, young children with fresh milk, or giving people a warm greeting on a cold day might seem like small gestures, they have a deep impact on the lives of our neighbors. To learn more about Marshall Hope or to sign up to volunteer, please go to their website here AAWGT Member Highlight:Meet Donna AndersonDonna Anderson is the Executive Director of Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park, MD. Her career in nonprofit management, marketing and development spans more than three decades, including positions at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, National Building Museum and Goodwill Industries. Donna “met” AAWGT in its initial years (2007-8) during her tenure at Maryland Hall. “As someone who works in nonprofits, I was appreciative and thankful that a group of women wanted to come together and build capacity for nonprofits with a particular focus on family and children,” she said. Read more/lessShe followed AAWGT activities through the years and joined the organization in 2021. She attended the September 2022 Grants Showcase, which she said was “really inspiring, solidifying her belief in AAWGT’s excellent work through the years.” Donna currently serves as Assistant Chair of AAWGT’s Marketing and Communications Committee and is “knee deep in learning how the wheels hum.” She noted this: “The women I’m meeting feel called to be part of this organization and are passionate about its mission, operations, and most importantly, giving back to the community through the grants program.” In addition to her full-time job and AAWGT, Donna is on the Board of Directors of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and an Elder at her church. She and her husband live in Gambrills and have two adult children who live in New York City. In her spare time, Donna enjoys watching sports, music, reading, movies, volunteering and traveling. | ► Women in Leadership The Impact the Pandemic Has Had on Our Collective Mental Health March 15, 6-7 pm, via Zoom Register here. This event is free and open to the public. ► AAWGT Open House April 19, 2023, 5:30 pm with program at 6:30 pm, The Golf Club at South River. This event is free and open to the public. New Membership OptionsAs AAWGT continues to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, it has expanded its membership options to make joining more financially feasible for women in our community. AAWGT’s model of collective philanthropy is based on reaching out and engaging women in a variety of circumstances and roles (including nonprofit positions) who share a passion for improving the lives of women and families. PLEASE JOIN US at one of these membership levels:
Save the Date: 2023 Philanos Conference, November 5-7, Baltimore, MD Philanos is a network of women’s giving circles from across the country, providing valuable resources to help them fulfill their missions. AAWGT is a member of Philanos, and many of us have attended their webinars on philanthropy, communications, needs in our community, technology, and more. AAWGT is excited to be one of the co-hosts for this year’s conference. Registration information is coming soon and we will keep you informed about conference workshops and how you can play a part in the success of the event. A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Member: Maryann Montgomery
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Anne Arundel Women Giving Together | giving@givingtogether.org
AAWGT is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel CountyAAWGT is a member of Philanos: Accelerating Philanthropy through Women’s Collective Giving
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